NEWPORT opened their Principality Premiership campaign with a defeat after they were beaten on the new Rodney Parade pitch by Cardiff, writes Jay Bayford.

Patrick Lewis proved to be a constant problem for Newport and he crashed over three times in a sensational first-half performance.

Gareth Thompson added a fourth try in the second half to seal the bonus point, and he added a further 11 points with his boot.

Will Evans, Harri Lang and Henry Palmer got the Newport tries, but they weren’t enough to salvage a result.

The hosts started brightly on the new Desso Playmaster hybrid pitch but it was Cardiff who took the lead through a Gareth Thompson penalty.

Matt O’Brien had the chance to restore parity moments later but he hit his effort horribly wide.

And Cardiff then punished them in a devastating two-minute spell. Wing Lewis found enough space to claim the game’s opening try before he crossed the whitewash again minutes later, with Thompson kicking both conversions.

But the Black and Ambers regrouped and, after a number of near-misses, finally touched down through hooker Will Evans. And O’Brien followed that up with the conversion.

Cardiff had the last word of the half with Lewis crossing for his hat-trick. But James Beal was the architect as he darted past two opponents before good footwork allowed him enough space to play in Lewis.

It took Newport just six minutes after the restart to pull a try back when Harri Lang finished off a fine team move to go over right in the corner. But O’Brien slipped during the conversion to keep the gap at 12 points.

However, Cardiff responded immediately with Thompson driving through the Newport defence to secure the bonus point. He then stepped up to land the conversion.

Newport continued to impress with their build-up play but Cardiff were able to deal with their threat whenever they got close to the try line.

But they finally got the breakthrough with 13 minutes remaining through Henry Palmer, and O’Brien was on hand with the conversion.

However, they failed to build on that as Cardiff saw out the victory comfortably.

Newport: H Simons; H Lang, C Smith, T Pascoe, C Ayling; M O’Brien, O Davies; N Boyce, W Evans (A Sabri 55), T Piper (G Harris 55), J Little, J Bartlett, M Burgess, A Everett, R Jenkins (capt).

Scorers – Tries: W Evans, H Lang, H Palmer; Cons: M O’Brien (2).

Cardiff: L ap Myrddin; P Lewis (C Young 56), O Lane, W Rees-Hole, J Beal; G Thompson (B Thomas 55), R Cole (L Jones 50); R Carre, J Tomlinson (capt) (E Lewis 50), D Lewis (K Dowdin 50), C Tucker, B White, T Wilson, J Botham, L Crocker.

Scorers – Tries: P Lewis (3), G Thompson; Cons; G Thompson (4); Pen: G Thompson.

Star man: Morgan Burgess